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A rich and creamy hot chocolate mix – easy to make and sure to please. This hot chocolate mix also has protein powder and collagen, so you get a nice protein boost with your hot cocoa. What could be better than that?
My kids love hot chocolate. In the days before I took them off sugar, they would drink hot chocolate every morning. They were addicted to it just as much as I am to my morning cup of coffee (wait, I’m NOT addicted)! Every morning, it was hot chocolate, cooled down with milk and (gasp!) creamer. Sugar, and more sugar! Yikes!
For some time now, I’ve wanted to make a powdered hot chocolate mix that is THM-friendly.
The first time I tried, it was OK, but not great. I made some tweaks, whirled it in my blender again, and thought it was going to be perfect! Until I tasted it and realized I had forgot to put the sweetener in it! Blech!!
Finally, after much trial and error (and taste testing from my kids), I hit upon success. I let my 9 year old son try it first – “Mmmm . . . it tastes like real hot chocolate!” Score!
I added protein powder and collagen to the mix for two reasons.
- It helps to mellow the flavor of the cocoa and make it creamy.
- It gives you an extra bump of protein – over 5 grams per cup if you use unsweetened almond milk.
I really am a drive-through-Sue at heart, and being prepared ahead of time is a game changer for me.
With this hot chocolate powder, I can have a cup of hot chocolate whenever I want! Oh, and did I mention that it is FP? You’re Welcome!
If you would like to try a hot chocolate recipe that is a little more involved (and has okra!), check out my Secret Ingredient Hot Chocolate Recipe.
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Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
- 1/2 Cup Gentle Sweet
- 1/3 Cup Pristine Whey Protein Powder
- 1/3 Cup Integral Collagen Collagen Hydrolysate
- 1 Teaspoon Sunflower Lecithin
- 1/4 Teaspoon Mineral Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Lily's Dark Chocolate Chips
Optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients in your blender, and blend for 10 seconds or so until all ingredients are well combined and the chocolate chips (if using) are broken into small pieces.
- Store in an airtight container.
To Make Hot Chocolate
- Heat 8-10 ounces of Unsweetened Vanilla (or Plain) Almond Milk or Cashew Milk.
- Add 2 Tablespoons of Hot Chocolate Mix and stir until dissolved.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Any substitute for sunflower lecithin? If I do decide to buy it, what form – powder or liquid? What are the benefits of it?
You do not have to use the lecithin, but it acts as an emulsifier to keep all the ingredients blended together. It is also very good for your brain! I use the powdered kind.
What all do you put it in Sarah?
Do you have a breakdown recipe for just a cup? I have wasted tons of ingredients trying so many bulk cocoa recipes that turnout to be terrible I’m gun shy now.
Excited to make this. Anyone else put Hot chocolate in their coffee? So good!
Yes, that is how I made myself start liking coffee over 15 years ago! ?
I do hot cocoa in my coffee. Sopoo yum! People look at me crazy, but every day I’m excited to have it!
That said, I actually thought even though I gave up all day soda habit, bread, etc, the cocoa (premade store bought sugar filled junk) coffee thing may be my no go stopper. Had tried several recipes and they weren’t working for me. But….then I tried this recipe. This is the one! I tweaked the slightest bit on amounts of cocoa and sweetener to my specific taste, but the mouth feel, the balance, the indulgent creaminess…oh yes! This is the saver for me! Thank you, thank you!
I have been adding collagen powder to my yoghurts – what a great idea to use it in hot chocolate. Will try!
Could you use tapioca flour for a substitute for sunflower lecithin?
Perfect for the winter!
This sounds great! I can’t wait to make some to keep on hand.
Sounds like you when through quite the process to get that perfect cup! I’m sure your kids are very grateful!
This is definitely the BEST low carb hot chocolate I’ve had 🙂 I think blending/grinding all the ingredients together is really key. Also, when I heat up almond milk and mix this in, I have to make sure not to get distracted and let the milk book, or it totally ruins the texture of the hot chocolate.
I’ve never thought to make my own hot chocolate mix but this sounds much healthier and probably waaaay better tasting this way!
Beautiful photos and this hot chocolate mix sound perfect!
Hi new to thm. I have plant based organic protein from sams club. Is that ok to use.
That should work fine in this recipe! While it may not be “completely on plan” (I wouldn’t know without seeing the ingredients), go ahead and use up what you have, then you can make a different choice if you want to! ☺
Could you use 85% chocolate, instead of the Lillys chocolate chips?
Sure!!
Such a good idea! Healthy hot chocolate? Yes please!
Could you add this to hot water rather than the nut milks? I am taking a group of kids to camp next week and am looking for things that don’t need to be in the fridge. I will have hot water but no almond milk or anything like that. Any other ideas for things that can be kept at room temperature?
I have tried mixing it in hot water, and personally, I did not like the result. The almond milk helps to make it creamy. I would try it and see if you like it – a few of my readers did!
For anyone else, thinking the same thing, You could add in powdered heavy cream, maybe…I havent’ tried this but see the ingredient in many other “low carb” powdered cocoa recipes. I don’t know what it would do to the consistency/flavor but I’d think if you mixed it in and then put in more TBSP to water it would even out. This would make it an S probably but for kids I don’t see the issue unless they had a dairy allergy or something. By the way, this recipe is great. My kids and I love it!
Please make sure none of those kids have a nut/peanut allergy!You can buy a shelf stable coconut or rice milk in a carton from Trader Joes that does not need to be refrigerated.
Ha! I just made this and totally forgot the sweetener even after reading about you making the same mistake! I added it in and now it’s delicious! Thanks!
Too funny! So glad you like it!
Thank you for coming up with this. I used to make hot chocolate mix but it certainly wasn’t healthyA. Thanks again!
Can I use the THM chocolate whey protein instead of plain? Maybe I will make it like written and then replace if I feel like I need it to be more chocolatety.
Oh, that is a great idea! I need to try that!
So would you use 2 heaping, rounded or level tablespoons of mix?
Mine are probably more heaping than level . . . but its totally up to you!
Can all collagen be used, don’t have whey….thank you.
Yes, you can use all collagen.
This hot chocolate mix sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Omg… so good. Thank you. Today is our first snow day of the season (I’m a teacher). I wanted a warm drink (don’t like coffee) so i whipped this up. Since i only have plain almond milk i also added a dash of vanilla. It is perfect. I may have more than one cup with my breakfast. Wonder what it would be like to add cream… will have to wait until an S meal though, had an E for breakfast.
I love this recipe, best hot choc one I have tried so far. I make chocolate milk sometimes too or add ice and blend. I am wondering how much protien would be in the 2 tbl spoons?
There are about 5 grams of protein in 2 Tablespoons of mix.
Love this recipe! I am no fan of almond milk but found with this recipe plus 1/4 cup peanut flour I can’t taste any almond flavor. Thank you for all your recipes!
If I use chocolate protein powder do you think I would still need/want to use chocolate chips? Do you think 85% chocolate will work then too, I don’t have Lily’s 😔 I do have Hershey’s Sugar Free Chocolate Chips.
THANK YOU for your hard work in testing these recipes!
I think you could omit the chocolate chips if you use chocolate protein powder. 85% dark chocolate would work equally well.
I made this recipe but I added extra cocoa and extra sweetener. I probably doubled the cocoa and added another 1/4 cup of sweetener. Is it still an FP? I have no idea how to figure that out! 😳 TIA
Yes, it would still be a FP! 🙂
Thank you so much and thank you for always giving us wonderful recipes!!!!
My daughter agrees with your kids. This tastes like real hot chocolate. I’m a happy mama too. Thanks for sharing your recipes.
Good morning!
I made this the other day and it does not taste good. Are use the exact ingredients that you listed so I’m not sure what to do with all of this product? Is there anything I can do to doctor it up? It doesn’t taste like hot cocoa at all. I’m sure it’s something I am doing as all of your recipes are amazing!
Can I leave out the collagan? It doesnt agree with me.
Definitely!
Hello! I have some VEGA plant based protein powder i need to use up. Do you think it would work for this recipe? And would I just eliminate the cocoa?
Yes, I think so!
I am pretty sure I followed the recipe correctly, but I usually add an additional tsp of super sweet and a pinch or so of mineral salt to each cupful. Glorious!
What brand of sunflower lecithin do you recommend?
Thank you!
I use the NOW brand.
Wondering if powdered almond or coconut milk could be added so that the mix could be used with water only. What do you think?
That is an idea – I’ve never used powdered almond or coconut milk. It may be worth trying!
Can I Xanthan gum instead of lecithin? If so how much, thanks 🙂
I would just omit it, instead of replacing it with xanthan gum.
As numerous others have said, this tastes like real hot chocolate and this is the one I’ll be using from now on. I did add just a smidgen more sweetener but I now have the mix handy from when I want a filling FP snack. So quick and easy!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!